Hotel de Crillon

Overall Impression Named for the Comte de Crillon who bought it in 1788 the Hotel de Crillon property remained in the family until 1907. We had an opportunity to revisit the property recently and remembered the many reasons we liked it the first time we stayed in the former palace now one of the better known addresses in the European capital.

We liked the hotel’s excellent location facing the Place de la Concorde, one of the more prominent squares of Paris. The staff we encountered were service oriented and friendly. We particularly liked our spacious first floor Presidential Suite which was pretty and well appointed (including complimentary high speed internet access and WiFi).

We also liked that within the hotel there were two restaurants to choose from including Les Ambassadeurs, its gourmet restaurant and an old favorite. There was also a cozy tea room, a business center, a top floor fitness center and a well stocked luxury boutique.

The Hotel de Crillon, on our short list in the City of Lights, provided a welcoming setting to celebrate the end of year holidays. We look forward to returning to the hotel for a holiday celebration or simply if we are in Paris.

Children Welcome Yes

Concierge Jean-François Tizané

General Manager Luc Delafosse

Handicapped Access Yes

Internet Connectivity In our suite there was complimentary high speed internet access and and WiFi. It worked well during our stay.

Location On the place de la Concorde

Owned And Managed Starwood Capital Group

Pets Welcome Yes

Size The 17,000 square meter hotel had 147 rooms and suites housed in five floors and a fitness center on the top floor.

Decorative Style The decorative style of the hotel was described as classical and historical with strong Louis XV influences. The marble lobby set the tone for the hotel. The dinning room was decorated “to be stately and to accent its French heritage.” The boutique near the hotel entrance, a most tempting shop, featured delicate and fine ancient eighteenth century wood panels. Modern touches could be found at The Crillon Bar, designed by César, a sculptor. L’Elephant, a Baccarat crystal sculpture of an elephant was the center piece of The Winter Garden Tea Room.

Bathroom The color theme of the luxurious marbled bathroom was terracotta and beige. The floor and lower part of the walls was covered with two shades of terracotta marble and beige with hints of terracotta color. To the left there were twin sinks below a large mirror; there was a make up mirror on the wall to the right of the sink; to the right on the other side of the bathroom there was a full size bathtub. In the back left there was a water closet with a bidet; next to it was a walk in shower with matching marble floors and walls and a built in seat as well as a hand held and rain shower heads. There was a digital scale and underfloor heating in the water closet.

Suite Our 85 square meter Presidential Suite 125-127 was on the first floor of the multi story building. The hotel space was divided into three areas, a living area with a half a bathroom, a sleeping area and a bathroom. The living area had a high ceiling, wood flooring and wood walls, a decorative marble framed fireplace with a large mirror above the mantle, and an antique looking clock on the mantle. It was furnished with a purple cloth sofa, framed by identical round tables, three mustard colored armchairs, a Persian style rug, and a rectangular glass covered coffee table. In the corner to one side of the fireplace there was a glass covered desk with a lamp and an Alcatel phone and a leather and wood armchair. Across from the desk there was a cloth and glass covered round table with a Philips flat screen television and a Philips DVD player (there was an identical television and DVD player set in the bedroom). To one side there was a marble topped wood table with an Onkyo mp3 player with DVD player and radio. There was also a chandelier, framed oil paintings on several walls and an orchid set on a wood table agains the wall (there was a single pink rose in a vase in the bathroom).

Double wood doors led to the sleeping area decorated in gold tones. Two small beds set against a single wicker headboard that could make a king bed or two single beds were set against the rear wall with matching square shaped wood tables with lamps. There was also a phone on the left night table. A glass framed print hung above the bed. There was a mirrored wall in the back of the room next to the entrance to a large closet with an electronic safe. Across from the closet there was a minibar with chocolate bars, cold beverages including soft drinks, water, wine, fruit juices and Champagne as well as tiny bottles of whisky, Cognac, vodka and other alcoholic beverages. On top there were glass jars of pretzels, pistachios, cashews, mixed nuts, condoms, an adapter, and Annick Goutal 50 milliliter Brumisateur Rosee Splendides humidifier. Across the room from the mirrored wall there was a wall facing glass covered wood desk with a lamp (where we placed our laptop computer) and telephone on it and an armless wood and cloth chair. On the wall above the desk hung a rectangular gold framed mirror.

There was beige and khaki patterned wall to wall carpeting, a high ceiling with a chandelier, a lavender flower patterned love seat that faced a rectangular glass covered black marble table and two cloth and wood gold tone armchairs.

There were two entrances to the suite. Double wood doors marked the main entrance to the suite and a second door led into the closet of the sleeping area. In the living area and in the sleeping area each there were double wood and glass doors leading onto a narrow balcony facing a side street. Privacy was possible thanks to double curtains, gauzy curtains and gray decorative curtains that kept out any prying eyes at night and sunlight during the day. It was mostly quiet inside the room except for the occasional hotel sounds drifting in from the hallway.

From the sleeping area a door led onto a small hallway. To the left of the hallway there was a vanity with a mirror in front of glass and wood doors leading to the balcony. To the right there were identical closets with mirrored doors opposite each other. The entrance to the bathroom was behind double mirrored sliding doors.

Amenities There were two branded cotton bathrobes and matching slippers, a house brand loofah sponge and shaving kit as well as scented Annik Goutal soap, shower cap, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion (liquids were in 70 milliliter plastic containers) and a nail file. There was also a bottle of Evian in the living area, a fruit plate and a chocolate plate on our arrival.

Facilities There was a business center, two restaurants, a tea room, a bar, a boutique and a fitness center.

Fitness Center The 75 square meter large fitness center had 10 Technogym and Lifefitness machines.

Conference Facilities There were eight banquet rooms capable of hosting board meetings. Three of the meeting rooms were historic rooms. The hotel’s maximum capacity was 450 people for receptions and 148 people for seated lunch or dinner meetings.

Other The hotel was listed among the Travel & Leisure 2010 World’s Best Awards. The facade was undergoing renovations and some of the construction noise reached us in our suite.

Cleanliness Excellent

Date Of Review December 2004 December 2010

Date Opened-Most Recent Renovation The hotel opened in 1909. At the time of our visit the facade of the hotel was being renovated.

Reviewers Article by Elena del Valle

Photos by Gary Cox

Service There was room service twice daily. During the evening turn down service in our suite at 9:30 p.m. the cleaning lady picked up garbage, tidied towels, added toiletries, left the next day’s weather forecast and made up the bed. The staff we encountered during our brief stay were service oriented. Constance at reception and Gabriel in the dining room stood out for their friendly demeanor.

Would You Stay There Again-Recommend It? Yes